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Arts and business news from around the country.

Americans for the Arts is excited to honor Fifth Third Bank at the BCA 10 Gala on October 2, 2018 in New York City. Click here to learn more about the BCA 10.

“Fifth Third Bank is committed to building thriving and vibrant communities, and in many ways, so are the arts. The arts play a central role in creating economic prosperity as well as a rich social and cultural life. They create common bonds that connect cultures and neighborhoods, touching and engaging every single one of us.”

– Greg Carmichael Chairman, President and CEO, Fifth Third Bancorp

Fifth Third Bank has a history of firsts. In 1948, it created the Fifth Third Foundation, the first corporate foundation established by a financial institution in the United States. Since then, the Bank has contributed funding, sponsorship, and leadership to the arts. In 2017, Cincinnati Fifth Third Bank President Tim Elsbrock chaired the ArtsWave campaign for the greater Cincinnati region’s local arts agency, and raised $12.5 million for the organization. When it came time for the Cincinnati Music Hall to be renovated, Fifth Third Foundation stepped in as one of the first $1 million pledges to help launch the renovation.

As one of Cincinnati’s largest employers, Fifth Third Bank understands the importance of the arts when it comes to engaging employees. The company incentivizes donations to the arts through endorsed payroll deductions and encourages leadership opportunities for its employees. Last year, 4,213 members of the Cincinnatiworkforce donated to ArtsWave. 132 of these donations exceeded $1,500.

Additionally, Teresa Tanner, chief administrative officer of Fifth Third Bank, was named Chair of ArtsWave’s Board of Directors last fall. Many other executives at Fifth Third Bank also serve on the boards of arts and cultural organizations, including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Ballet, and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, as well as other arts organizations across its 10-state reach.

In partnership with ArtsWave, the Bank has promoted opportunities for employees to engage with the arts through showcases and performances. The two organizations are currently working collaboratively on an “Inclusive Arts” program with artist Brian Washington, whose work will be exhibited by the Bank and who will also design a mural for the headquarters in Cincinnati. The Bank’s first mural, designed by Eduardo Kobra, depicts Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut who was an Ohio native and University of Cincinnati professor.

Fifth Third Bank’s connection to local arts fosters a sense of pride in its city. The Bank has sponsored “Transform Cincinnati,” a book detailing the ArtWorks Mural Program, which is a nonprofit public art initiative, and has also sponsored TIDAL, a hackathon in Cincinnati which brings together minds from the tech, design, and marketing industries to rethink issues in the arts.

Mural by artist Eduardo Kobra at its Cincinnati headquarters, courtesy Fifth Third Bank

Over the past 20 years, the Fifth Third Foundation has donated almost $7 million to the arts. Fifth Third Bank has branches across Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and North Carolina, where they are also engaged in their respective communities through their support of the arts.

Americans for the Arts is excited to honor Zions Bank at the BCA 10 Gala on October 2, 2018 in New York City. Click here to learn more about the BCA10.

“There are many similarities between the arts and business. Both push the envelope of human creativity, intellect, energy, and promise. Both seek to motivate, to produce, to achieve excellence, to grow, to unite. So, as we build an enduring platform for economic success in our communities, we need to ensure that both business and the arts flourish.”

-- Scott Anderson, President and CEO, Zions Bank

Founded in Utah in 1873, Zions Bank began supporting cultural institutions in the 1890s. Nearly 150 years later, Zions Bank operates more than 120 branches in 3 different states and continues to be an integral part of the communities they serve. They are fortunate to be part of an environment where arts and culture are prioritized; according to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Utah ranks as the state with the highest attendance at museum and theatre events, and number two in art exhibit attendance. Given the state’s robust arts scene, it is only natural that businesses such as Zions Bank are allies of the arts themselves.

Among Zions Bank’s guiding principles is a commitment to creating value for the communities it serves, and the company understands that the arts are a way to achieve this goal. Traveling arts and cultural exhibits, often showcasing local artists, are displayed in branch offices. For 20 years, Zions Bank and the Natural History Museum of Utah have partnered to host a rotating exhibit highlighting native artwork and crafts. Zions Bank itself has an extensive collection of more than 3,800 original works by regional artists.

Employees engage with the arts through volunteer opportunities and workplace giving. Current staff sit on the boards of the Utah Arts Council, Ballet West, Utah Symphony |Utah Opera, Pioneer Memorial Theatre, Basque Museum in Idaho, The Leonardo Museum, Hale Centre Theatre, The Utah Film Center, Sun Valley Film Festival, Sundance Institute, and the Utah Anime Promotions, among many others.

Private banking clients are invited to an exclusive annual art show, which features the work of local artists who are also clients of Zions Bank. After 20 years of successful art shows, branches in Boise, Idaho and Provo, Utah have begun hosting their own events. Customers can also win tickets to performances, Sundance Film Festival screenings, and other arts events. Community, Zions Bank’s lifestyle magazine, offers complimentary advertising to many of its arts partners, in addition to allocating space for arts-related articles. Other advertising and branding partnerships have formed over the years, with Ballet West appearing in an advertisement that aired at local movie theaters.

Utah Symphony performes in Moab, UT; courtesy, Zions Bank

The arts play a key role in Zions Bank’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. The Diversity Business Forums gather at least quarterly, often to experience arts-related programming prior to a networking reception. Past sponsored events have included a multimedia poetry reading by “The Cosby Show” star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who recited Langston Hughes’ epic poem “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz.”

In recognition of their support, Zions Bank was a BCA 10 honoree in 2008. Since then, CEO Scott Anderson has also received arts awards from the Utah Cultural Alliance and the Utah Governor Gary Herbert. Zions Bank is committed to continuing its work as a strong supporter and advocate for the arts.

PurePoint Financial is a hybrid digital bank that launched in February 2017. Although it has only been around for a year and a half, it is already into its second art exhibit at its flagship Park Avenue location. With the aim of celebrating the community, PurePoint Financial has supported local artists who feature the New York City landscape and culture.

This week, it opened its new gallery, “Dance as Art: The New York Photography Project,” by Kevin Richardson. His work showcases dancers around the city, celebrating both their talent and the NYC environment.

In 2017, PurePoint Financial displayed the photography of Rachel Neville, also a dance photographer. When she auctioned off some of her work, a portion of the proceeds went to Project LIFT, which is a program of New York Theater Ballet that provides access to children. PurePoint is making a matching contribution to the New York Philharmonics Very Young Composers program.

With the launch of the first exhibit, Maha Madain, Head of Marketing at PurePoint Financial said, “The art scene is part of New York. What better way to showcase our commitment to the community than being part of the community?”

Likewise, their office in Houston features work by Lynn Lane, the official photographer for the Houston Grand Opera and Alley Theatre.

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At the 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, CEO Greg Harris had something to announce that was just as exciting as the rock icons they were honoring. He shared that KeyBank Foundation had commit $10 million to the Hall of Fame.

KeyBank has been a supporter since the first days of the Rock Hall, providing sponsorship for various events, concerts, and festivals. Aside from the Rock Hall, they have consistently supported cultural institutions, including the Cleveland Orchestra, PlayHouse Square, Broadway Series, Cleveland Museum of Art, and many more.

Beth Mooney, KeyBank CEO said, "At KeyBank, we have made it our mission to create thriving communities and we believe that access to arts and culture is core to that mission. Through this unprecedented gift, we will work to provide greater accessibility for the community and preserve this national icon and regional treasure for future generations."

KeyBank’s partnership with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame demonstrates the tremendous power that the arts can have on a community, and the incredible impact that a company can have on creating vibrant spaces.

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The pARTnership Movement essay “Embrace Diversity & Team Building” brings to light how the arts can assist in enhancing a company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. BCA 10 winner U.S. Bank shows how to be a leader in this area.

In celebration of and support for the LGBT community and to highlight the bank’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion, the company held the LGBT Debit Card Art Contest where they asked artists to submit art in any medium that celebrated the LGBT community. The contest would allow three finalists with the winner receiving $7,500 and that design becoming one of U.S. Bank’s permanent card designs. The runner-up received $5,000 and the third-prize winner received $2,500.

Ann Dyste, assistant vice president and LGBT strategy manager at U.S. Bank says, "We believe the three winning designs all honored equality, progress and unity, and we wanted to leave the final decision up to the public, so their voices could be heard."

After 400 design submissions, the public selected Olivia Ogba, ER medical transcriptionist preparing for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), as the winner with the card design shown above. Ogba’s design is connected to the June 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that same-sex marriage was legal nationwide. The digital painting is purposefully patriotic, featuring rainbow colors shooting from sparklers on the Fourth of July. "That's what America stands for – the ability for everyone to go after the American dream without any sort of discrimination," Ogba said.

As the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States, U.S. Bank has made strong commitments to increase outreach to the LGBT community. This national art competition helps reiterate their corporate message of inclusion along with sponsoring Pride festivities and LGBT organizations across the country, making the bank a “Best Place to Work for LBGT Equality” for 10 years in a row.

“We want employees and prospective hires to know that U.S. Bank is an open and inclusive workplace where all are welcome," said Eduardo Sayan, U.S. Bank vice president and director of multicultural strategy.

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In the world of arts funding, the star roles are played by banks, with the lead role in the hands of Bank of America Corporation, 2012 BCA 10 honoree. As a Founding Member of the Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC and Global Sponsor of the Chicago Symphony, Bank of America’s arts scope reigns vast and inclusive. In fact, twenty-two percent of performing arts organizations have reported a partnership with Bank of America.

As such, bank partnerships with arts don’t stop there. KMPG, US Bank (2015 BCA 10 honoree), and JPMorgan Chase round out the top 5 art-sponsoring banks, each partnering with 11% of performing arts organizations. With astounding numbers like these, it’s clear to see how an IEG research led to the conclusion that banks are 11.4 times more likely to sponsor the performing arts than the average of all sponsors. Here are the banks that are following suit, with the percentage of arts organizations they are involved with:

Furthermore, the study illustrated that the amount given to the arts—both visual and performing—has been steadily increasing and is projected to reach a total of $970 million for this year. In this way, Bank of America and its supporting cast are not only making themselves known, they are truly creating a legacy teaming with vitality and vibrant culture.

With today's hyperconnected world via social media, hashtags promoting goodwill or shared photos to spread awareness are all too common. Though posted with the best of intentions, increased online chatter regarding a given issue requires more real life action in order to develop lasting and meaningful change. Reba Dominski, leader of Corporate Social Responsibility at US Bank, knows this pitfall of social media all too well and as such, has created a movementin order to promote "'real' connectivity," which she defines as, "being an active participant in the vibrant, dynamic communities that still exist in our own backyards... [and] reinforcing that Tweet or Facebook post with a positive action and valuable impact."

Under the guide of the real connectivity philosophy, US Bank launched a coach bus, or what they refer to as a "mobile baton," to travel through various cities and engage community members to give back. This incredible project, Community Possible Relay: Race to 153K, stands—or rather, moves—as living testament of the overwhelmingly positive relationship between time spent to fortify a community and the resultant vibrant community. Through promotion via social media and partnerships with various humanitarian organizations, the Relay focused on, "restoring parks and building affordable homes, engaging and inspiring local youth through art and science, [and] teaching budgeting and financial literacy to those in need."

Just how far did they travel? Nearly 13.5 thousand miles, according to this image they tweeted:

This astounding undertaking is part of US Bank's corporate giving program Community Possible; beginning over six months ago, it seeks and funds organizations that promote healthy and engaged communities under three main pillars: work, home, and play. “It all comes back to those pillars of community—a stable job, a home to call your own, and a community that’s connected through play,” says Dominski.

For this commitment to public service, US Bank was an honoree of last year's BCA 10 award. In his acceptance speech, CEO Richard Davis stated, “We need to create this core of advocates—vocal, visceral advocates—to express that now business is reliant on the arts. Because the arts wouldn’t make it as far as they do without business, but the world wouldn’t make it at all without the arts.”

US Bank's continued commitment to service through initiatives such as Community Possible truly acts as a benchmark for the harmonious possibilities when business, arts, and service come together.